Orthodox Churches

For the first time in a thousand years, the largest portion of the sacred relic of Saint Barbara is returning to Orthodox hands, even if it is only for a few days. In a highly symbolic move, the Roman Catholic Church decided to respond positively to the request of Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, by giving the entire relic of this great Saint, which resides in Venice, for two weeks.

On Sunday, the 26th of April/9th of May 2015, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman according to the Pentecostarion, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of the Samaritan Woman, St Photini, who had met the Lord by Jacob’s Well and believed in him as the Messiah and went on to preach His name in Samaria and beyond.

On Thursday, the 24th of April/7 May 2015, a Royal Jordanian Delegation visited the Patriarchate.

The members of the Royal Governmental Delegation were accompanied by Jordan’s Ambassador to Israel, Mr Walid Obeidat, and Jordan’s representative for Islamic and Christian Holy Sites and WAQF President, Mr Azam Hadib.

Our Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania includes all jurisdictions in the region – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand and Exarchate of Oceania, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, Russian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, Ukrainian Orthodox Consistory in Australia and New Zealand, Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of USA, Canada and Australia, and Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Australia and New Zealand. As you may be aware, the last Synaxis of the Assembly mandated the initiation of work on a website representing the Assembly.

The Orthodox seminary on the island of Halki (Turkey) may be restored in exchange for opening of a mosque in Thessaloniki, Greece. This condition was laid down by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Blagovest-info, this information was spread by the Hürriyet Turkish newspaper with the reference to editor-in-chief of one history journal who had discussed the matter with Erdogan in person. The Turkish President said that he was ready to give his consent on reopening of the Orthodox seminary on Halki; however, he added, Greece was not intending to open mosques on its territory at all. Later Metin Kulunk, Member of the Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, specified that the President meant the Fethiye Cami Mosque in Athens, and not a mosque in Thessaloniki.